Probably ever since the first hominids shared a wall between their adjacent caves, neighbors have complained about each other. Modern multifamily housing dwellers are no different. Residents may even sometimes feel like their situation…
It’s no secret—living space is at a premium in New York City. Balconies can go a long way toward providing a little extra elbow room by giving co-op and condo residents the square footage necessary to entertain, relax or simply enjoy a …
While recent decades have seen the rise of glass-and-steel as architects' favorite materials for new construction, the bulk of New York City's facades remain clad in brick. From last-century red-brick tenement buildings in the Village …
Believe it or not, pigeons are related to doves (both hail from the columbidae family of birds) but to many co-op and condo buildings, the former are not at all symbolic of peace. Quite the contrary. Although rats, mice, cockroaches, a…
Good information and clear communication are crucial for anyone involved with the administration of a cooperative, condominium or homeowners association—crucial not just to thriving, but surviving in today's challenging economic times. …
The big secret regarding energy efficiency in co-ops and condos is window glass, which compared to insulated walls and ceilings, can be a source of serious energy waste. While we expect that energy-conserving walls and ceilings will dr…
Occupying the southernmost tip of Manhattan, New York City’s Financial District is the center of wealth and power for both the city and the nation, but until just a few years ago, the area was a ghost town after office hours. That began…
There have long been organizations that strive to strengthen and clarify the roles of owners, residents, and managers within the cooperative housing environment. But one essential player in the game—the superintendent—was the last to fi…
Last summer’s heat wave is just a fading memory, and it's that time again: time to get your building’s boiler operating and ready for the colder months. Before the first snow falls however, some maintenance and housekeeping to your buil…
You may have a roof over your head—but if that roof isn’t doing its job, you may as well be living on the cold, wet streets of New York City. Roofs serve as the first line of defense against whatever the skies throw at your bu…